In the summer of 2004, the Students' Union produced a Student Written Submission (SWS) on behalf of UWE students to inform Institutional Audit carried out by the Quality Assurance Agency. One of the areas of widespread dissatisfaction amongst students highlighted in the SWS was that of assessment feedback. As a result, the University's Teaching, Learning & Assessment Committee set up the Assessment Working Group in October 2004.

This group considered issues such as the 4 week turn around rule for feedback on coursework, ways in which exam feedback could be given and feedback forms articulated with assessment criteria. As a result of these discussions the group formulated a minimum entitlement statement which is due to come into effect on the 1st February 2006.

In parallel to the Assessment Working Group's work, the Students' Union carried out a survey which received 2142 responses. The results showed that there are issues with frequency, promptness, quality and variability of assessment feedback on coursework, group work and exams. The report has been discussed in Faculty Student Councils and at University Committees. The Union hopes that there will be an action plan from the university to address the concerns raised by students.

Read the report here: